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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 7, 1956)
Tuesday, February 7, 1956 Poge 2 THE NEBRASKAN Nebraska n Editorials: LITTLE MAN on campus by Dick Bibler n Li Do :r - ! - - 1 ".'4 fJosf Welcome Addition It isn't often that a university hire a faculty member who has never received a Baccalaure ate, Master's or Doctor's degree as a full profes sor. And it isn't often that a university gets the chance to add a Pulitzer Prize winner to its staff. However, in one quiet, little-publicized move last Saturday, the Board of Regents did both by formalizing the appointment of Karl Shapiro, one of America's foremost poets and winner of the Pulitzer prize for poetry in 1945, to the University faculty. Though Shapiro has never received a Bac calaureate degree (which did not influence the University's decision in the least, the Nebraskan has been told), he not only brings to Nebraska a distinguished reputation as poet, critic, lec turer and professor but the valuable experience of editing the famous "Poetry" magazine, prob ably the outstanding poetry magazine in English in the world today and undoubtedly the outstand ing one in America. In the spring of 1953, when Shapiro presented tha Montgomery Lectures on Contemporary Civil ization at Nebraska, Miss Bernice Slote, assist ant professor of English, wrote: Th early chapters in the career of Karl Shapiro, the poet, read like a story: war, and the young soldier in the South Pacific; the girl at home, selling his manuscripts; publications and prizes; and the young man coming back famous." And Shapiro is famous. He has written nine books, received the Pulitzer Prize for a collec- tion of wartime poems and has taught and lec tured in several universities in the United States, including John Hopkins and the Universities ef Iowa, Chicago, California and Loyola. Among the honors and awards Shapiro has received are: Jeannette S. Davis prize, 1942; the Levinson Prize and the Contemporary Poetry Prize, 1943; the American Academy of Arts and Letters Grant, 1944; the Pulitzer Prize in poetry and the Shelley Memorial Prize, 1945; and a Guggenheim Fellowship, 1945-46. But though Shapiro has won many distingu ished awards, he is mainly a writer and his chief distinction comes from his books of poetry. He writes with a great deal of feeling, interpreting the matter-of-factness of everyday life that he considers so important ("myself, my house, my street and my city"), thereby giving new life to the commonplace. Thus, his most vivid descriptions are also in tepretations. In the aristocratic university, "Poise is a club." In war, "The moon leaks metal on the Atlantic fields," and "over the hill the guns bang like a door." The movie actress "lies curved on the velvety floor of her fame," her beauty "wrong as the wig of a perfect disguise." Nothing is too small for his observation. The wing of an insect, crushed by a nail, "hung upon my finger like a sting." The drug store, "baffles the foreigner like an idiom." Using clear visual images, writing with thoughtful clarity, Shapiro depicts the miscellany of anyman's life, and particularly the Mid westerner's life, of corner drugstores, movies, the suburban Sunday, Christmas trees, flies, love, war and libraries. His 16 the genius of the common touch, the personality with which Nebraskans can feel at home when he speaks of "the frail eyelash" of the insect's leg," "the perfect ice of the thin keys" of the piano and flies "strewn like raisins in the dust." It is to the Immense credit of our English Department and the University itself that a man of Shapiro's influence and reputation is joining the Nebraska faculty. B. B. A Quiet Reminder The University of Nebraska recently made headlines in a manner not always noticed by the reading public. Instead of the hiring or firing of football coaches, or the building of multi-million dollar buildings, the University has made news through the pure and rather rare medium of scientific research. Discoveries in one-celled bacterial micro-organisms by Dr. Walter Militzer, biochemist and Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and Dr. Carl Georgi, bacteriologist, introduced a new phase in cell structure. Dr. William Arnold, associate professor of psychology, has made new advances in the ef fect of irradiation on rat's brains, and has opened experimentation on Jie treating of men tal cases by radiation. In regard to the discoveries by Dr. Militzer and Dr. Georgi, they said: "for a better under standing of life as a whole, one has to obtain a complete understanding of the individual cells." By going to the basic structure of life, the cell, these two University scientists have made a very important addition to the under standing of the functions of life. Dr. Arnold, by directing radiation into the brains of rats, has increased their learning speed and decreased their forgetting. Experi ments are now being conducted which might help to show whether radiation would have medical value in treating mental cases. Both by working for a better understanding of life, and making life more livable for human beings, the staff of the University has made these valuable contributions to science and to mankind. As was said before, these developments are not of the kind that the reading public absorbs about a school. Much more interesting are ath letic scandals, "red" professors or the hiring and especially tin firing of instructors, coaches or professors. The University has had no trouble with ath letic scandals other than a "player revolt" three years ago. The resignation of a football coach is bound to happen sometime, and usually makes sports headlines. The University has always been free of accusations of parlor pinks. Only recently they hired a nationally-famous poet to teach in the Department of English. The important thing that must be emphasized, however, is that the University of Nebraska has nurtured two scientific discoveries that will rise far and above the normal humdrum of college news stories that make such interesting reading. '''he University, faculty and students alike, should be very proud of what has developed here. Right under the noses of more than 7000 students three men worked quietly and without fuss on projects that have more import on the lives of these students than any athletic contest or s udent riot could ever have. It is almost amazing that anyone found out about them. But now that they have made the headlines, and the University has at least been subjected to their importance, all that can be hoped is that someone will sit back and realize that the University is more than a bowl game or a panty raid or a meeting of such-and-such committee or this-and-that board. Or the putting out of a student newspaper, for that matter. All these things are important, of course. Athletics and student activities both have a vital and irreplaceable spot in the makeup of any university. The main thing, and the thing that is most easily forgotten or shoved to a less prominent position, is that a university is above all an institute of learning and of finding out what is going on. Dr. Militzer, Dr. Georgi and Dr. Arnold have just reminded the University Of that fact. Whether or not anyone will notice it is another matter. F.T.D. As! Improved faculty Housing Another step has been taken by the Univer- University and its facilities in a good light to sity in improving conditions for its faculty mem- ' prospective faculty members, bers. One big criticism made by professors, in Less than two months after preparations structors and staff members upon first coming were made for a faculty club, the University pur- Lincoln is the absence of adequate housing, chased a block of 36 apartment units to be used s Problem has been accentuated m r&ent as temporary housing units for new professors, years by the re-opening of the Air Base. New faculty members will be permitted to live TAT in the apartments until they are ready to settle The University has made a fine adjustment to in the city. The housing will not be on a perman- the problem. . . t basis A should be kept m mind is the fact ,n that a steadily increasing enrollment means a , , . , . . steady increase in the number of professors. The purpose of this purchase is clear. The providing housing for these new professors University is simply making things easier and must come the University has made it more pleasant for persons interested in the Uni- easjer to obt&in versity. Tnis purchase of housing could be included as The presence of comfortable and ready-made part 0f tne University's building program. While temporary housing is a fine way to put the building is being planned for an increase in stu dents as far as housing and classroom space 1 was concerned, nothing definite was being done 'PrtoOIJQrlfS for the faculty- Problem seems to be on Wi 1 1 IWWJI 11 the way to being solved. 1 InliLvk CtLftAP It is good to see the faculty being provided VniltU? 1U lilts I for, along, with the rest of the University. In One of the University's faculty members and the midst of building programs and increased recently-renowned scientists has a young son, enrollments, the role of the faculty member can age four. . When questioned as to what he would easily be overlooked. like to do, "when you grow up," the gentleman Now, with a new faculty club and increased had rather definite opinion. housing facilities, the University picture is a Instead of references to theories of rela- good deal more rosy for a prospective instructor, tivity or a cure for the common cold, he said, The faculty is only getting what it has long "I want to be a burglar or a bad boy." deserved. L. S. The Nebraskan uwi'ir T'TVB' VT? T C AT T say. or do ot eanse to be printed. February 8, 1955. .... FIFTY-FIVE ItAKh VW Entered as seond class matter at the post offlee In Member: Associated Collegiate Press Uncom, Neb"lkvrT BKU"t 191J- Intercollegiate Pres. Edltor ED b,. h,-. Representative: National Advertising Service, rlltnrlal PMr Editor Fred Daiy Incorporated Managing Editor 8 jdyBt Published at: Room 20, Student Union hp ta!mt ' .' ! Max Kreitman lAtu f. r Unity Edlton ........ liOeteraee Swltxer, Monroe Usher, lln K Barbara Sharp, Bob Cook University Of Nebraska Nlrht News Editor iMrAgnt. SwHzei " An F,dltnr Wilfred Mehuti Lincoln, Nebraska staff Writer Mary ShHIedy, Artene Hrbek. Tft Xtmm to pnMlflhed Tnenday, Wednesday and Cynthia Zsrhau, Walt Wore, Nancy Coover. Trttlmw durhic the school year, except during vacations Reporters: Unrta svy, Boh Ireland, Pat Tatroe, Nancy and exarn periods, and one . Issoe is published dnrinir DeLnnr, Marianne Ihygeon, Sara Alexander, Pat Anrmt, by itndents of the University Nebraska under Drake, Plana Raymond, Alyee Frltchmaa, Bob Wlra, rue authorization of the Committee on Student Affairs George Moyer and Dick Faleoner. ns an emirrloB of tdeni opinion. Publication under TUT SINE SS STAFF the j.ri.ll-lon of the Hnheom.nlttee m Student PuWI- U ,wH b free from editorial censorship on the Rusiiirs, Manager George Madam rart of the Subcommittee, or on the part t any ,"h" Asn,t Business Manager MleW Neff. Bill Bedwetl. ef the faculty of the I nlversfty, or on the part of any Connie Hurst, Won Beck rerwm ontnMe the 1'r.lveinlty. The members of the ii.h M-.rirlv bnMkaa Jf lire pronJly re.pmi.IbUi for what they Circulation ZSlanager Bichard Heudrlx SAY, TH05E WERE PRETTY TOUGH' FIRST DAY'ASSIfifVMENTS, HUH 3 (- Advice Offered On Attendance I ra ' I i -yu. ii 1 Having been advised by my boy that the new semester Las just be gun, and realizing that these few days are a time of trial for many of my rcders, I wish to use this space to offer you all some words of comfort. Things are not so bad as they look; a little mental trickery, a few clever ploys, and everything will be all right. So here is a little advice from a man whose failures have become legend. For those of you who have al ready attended class, and have been rewarded for your consci- Jess Jesting entiousness by ridiculously large assignments, a word of comfort. I suggest that you all disregard anything you may have heard and come to the next meeting of the class completely empty-handed and totally unprepared. ' This will immediately endear you to your fellow students, and if you look closely, you will also be able to discern a twinkle in the eye of your instructor. This signifies his pleasure at the sight of such a bold and individualistic fellow. If you are among the many who have not yet been to class, other problems will be troubling you. Perhaps you are searching for an excuse to give for missing the first class. Smooth your brows; nothing is easier. Of course, you may say that you have just transferred into the course, and while this might be sufficient, it lacks the proper fi nesse. It is better, for instance, to say that you were paying your fees at the time. This pitiable statement is calcu lated to strike a chord of sym pathy within any teacher, though he may have the hardest heart in Christendom. It will also help to wear threadbare trousers and a shirt with frayed cuffs, and to mumble something about looking for a new job. Now that you are safely enrolled in your classes, the rest is easy. Simply take a seat in the back row, smile vapidly, and begin to carve your initials in the desk. In the space of a few short weeks, everyone will have forgotten about you, and your life will become simple and easy again. Karl Shapiro yize-W i iHiiifi (Editor's Note:) The follonhip poems were written and pub lished by Karl Shapiro, Pulitzer t3e-winning poet recently added to the University staff as a profei or of English. Buick was written by Shapiro as a humorous sketch on ilie Buick automobile. Nostal gia was included in "V-Letter and Other Poems," a collection pub lished in 1944 which won Shapiro the Pulitzer Prize, Nostalgia My soul stands at the window of my room, And I ten thousand miles away; My days are filled Ocean's sound of doom, Salt and cloud and the bitter spray. Let the wind blow, for many a man shall die. My selfish youth, by books with gilded edge, Knowledge and all gaze down the street; The potted plants upon the window ledge Gaze down with selfish lives and sweet. Let the wind blow, for many a man shall die. My night is now her day, my day her night, So I lie down, and so I rise; The sun burns close, the star is losing height, The clock is hunted down the skies. Let the wind blow, for many a man shall die. Truly a pin can make the memory bleed, A world explode the inward mind And turn the skulls and flowers never freed Into air, no longer blind. Let the wind blow, for many a man shall die. Laughter and grief join hands. Always the heart Clumps in the breast with heavy stride; The face grows lined and wrinkled like a chart, The eyes bloodshot with tears and tide. Let the wind blow, for many a man shall die. A Little Treasury of Modern Poetry Charles Scribner's Sons Buick As a sloop with a sweep of immaculate wing on her delicate spine And a keel as steel as a root that holds in the sea as she leans, Leaning and laughing, my warm-hearted beauty, you ride, you ride, You tack on the curves with parabola speed and a kiss of goodbye, Like a thoroughbred sloop, my new high-spirited, my kiss. As my foot suggests that you leap in the air with your hips of a girl, My finger that praises your wheel and announces your voices of song, Flouncing your skirts, you blueness of joy, you flirt of politeness, You leap, you intelligence, essence of wheelness with silvery nose, And your platinum clocks of excitement stir like the hairs of a fern. But how alien you are from the booming belts of your birth and the smoke Where you turned on the stinging lathes of Detroit and Lansing at night And shrieked at the torch in your secret parts and the amorous tests, But now with your eyes that enter the future of roads you forget; You are all instinct with your phosphorous glow and your streaking hair. And now when we stop it is not as the bird from the shell that I leave Or the leathery pilot who steps from his bird with a sneer of delight, And not as the ignorant beast do you squat and watch me depart, But with exquisite breathing you smile, with satisfaction of love, And I touch you again as you tick in the silence and settle in sleep. Modern American and Modern British Poetry Harcourt, Brace and Company. 'Keep Henkle Fans Scream 1. ! If anyone's interested, I'll still be pouring out this bilge for an other big year. My avid fans, spread all over this great country of ours, etc., have beset the edi- tor3 of this sheet with a veritable deluge of letters saying, "keep Henkle on," "that Henkle, he's good," "Henkle is jim dandy in my book" and "Henkle is quality". Now who can resist such an on slaught? The only restriction on my free dom is that I don't mention the fact that the new editorial page editor hasn't shaved in a fortnight. I must say, however, that last semester there was some deroga tory comment made by certain dis sident elements concerning my col umn. A noted fraternity man who seems to think he carries a big stick glowered at me early in the year and said that I had "hung myself" by one of my columns. A noted military figure and for eign policy expert reproached me, for trying to masquerade libel as humor. And of course, that scound rel Brownell is always at the whet stone Some people have accused me of not preparing for this column, of being a hack. This is, of course, an injustice. I swear by Areopagitica and Peter Zenger and William Ran dolph Hearst that I delve deeply into the nature of my subject be fore making my astute observa tions. For instance, I have, by dint of tireless research and observation, found out just exactly what is the much talked-of "breach" between the administration and the student body. I have found what that thing is that separates the heads of our university community" from the lowly student. It's that pit on the north side of Ellen Smith Hall. At first I thought they were building a resort there, at which it happened at nu "Please see me at your earliest convenience." Colonel Diestel. No doubt many fans attending Mo.iday night's basketball game with Kansas State suspected such a note to appear on a ROTC bulle tin board Tuesday morning. During the halftime Pershing Rifle precision marching demon stration, one cadet, often and aus piciously, broke from the ranks to pick up imaginary coins which had been tossed on the floor. Whether the group had been thus Instructed or they planned to split the proceeds or one member was planning to drop out of ROTC could not be determined. the students could frolic between classes. I assume they were plan ning to fill it with salt water, and put a ski lift on those mountains of dirt. I imagined those wooden huts were motels and villas for seniors. My Bootless Cries As I thought of the many days of joy and sport we students could have in that romantic location be ween Ellen Smith and Teacher'a college, I thought that maybe th administration fellows weren't such bad guys, after all. But then I found out that it's the beginning of a huge moat to protect Ellen Smith and her deni zens from a November revolution. It is clear separation of ruler and governed; it is the long-heralded breach. And the Caterpillar diesels did it. INSULTING VALENTINES also Humorous St Specials For FRIENDS RELATIVES SWEETHEARTS A VERY LARGE SELECTION G0LDENR00 STATIONERY STC1Z 215 North 14 Come lnBrowsm Around Why Chancellor Adenauer reads The Reader's Digest ill '4 1 ( "Y4 mm. Li. "In my country more than 500,000 people read the Digest in German each month. And they read not only about the people of the United States, but about the people of all nations. The Reader's Digest has forged a new instrument for understanding among men." KONRAD ADENAUE. Chancellor of Wast Garmsny In February Header's Bigest don't miss: LEARN TO LIVE WITH YOUR WORRIES. Some anxie ties spur you to greater effort. But many simply distort your judgment, wear you down. Ardie Whitman tells the kind of worry you should learn to overcome, how to put sensible anxieties to good use. THE ONE AND ONLY BENCHLEY. When told his drink was slow poison, Benchley quipped, "So who's in a hurry?". . . Chuckles from the life of one of America's best-loved humorists. BOOK CONDENSATION: I WAS SLAVE 1E-241 IN TKI SOVIET UNION. Seized without cause, John Noble (a U.S. citizen) was sent to a Russian concentra tion camp to work in a coal mine. In episodes from his forthcoming book, "Slave 1E-241," Noble telle of Red brutality . . . and how the "slaves" rebelled in 1953 a revolt he's sure can occur again. PRIVATE LIFE OF ADOLF HITLER. Was the Fuehrer insane? Did he really marry his mistress Eva Braun the very night before they planned to kill J themselves? Is his body secretly buried? Hitler's personal valet reveals hitherto unknown facts. Get February Reader's Digest at your newsstand today-owy 250 ' I ;i5 articles of lasting interest, including the best from leading magazines and current books, condensed to save your time. V1 V